Behavioral Health Associates of NC has recently released its own iPhone app, which is actually the symptom tracker for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The application helps users keep track of bowel function as well as ten other variables in order to create an accurate picture of IBS symptom experience. It does so by preparing 24 hour, one week and 90 day graphs of symptoms, which can be sent via email along with a text summary to any e-mail address (i.e. to a doctor).
Those not familiar with the Irritable Bowel Syndrome, here’s an excerpt from the press release:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a condition of brain/gut dysfunction where patients experience abdominal pain or discomfort that is decreased after bowel movement. Commonly, bowel movements with this condition will have a diarrheal or constipated consistency and be accompanied by a sense of urgency. Many patients report that stress can play a role in their symptoms and research has shown that a number of psychological and biological variables impact IBS experience.
Additionally, you can get more details from the website of the International Foundation for Functional GI and Motility Disorders.
The application was developed by a clinical psychologist, specialized in behavioral medicine and GI Dysfunction. One tool that is frequently used in GI clinics is for patients to keep a diary that pairs bowel movement data with data on psychological and biological functioning. Gastroenterologists who work with IBS can also benefit from information obtained in this type of diary as it allows them to track changes in symptoms that occur with medication or lifestyle changes over time.
Hopefully you won’t need this application. Just in case, here’s a link to the AppStore from where you can grab the app for $3.99.